Former Masters champion Mike Weir ended a victory drought of more than three years on Sunday with a one-stroke triumph over Australian Mark Hensby.
Canadian Mike Weir’s long win drought ends with PGA triumph at Arizona
SCOTTSDALE: Former Masters champion Mike Weir ended a victory drought of more than three years on Sunday with a one-stroke triumph over Australian Mark Hensby in the PGA Fry’s Electronics Open.
Weir drained a six-foot par putt at 18 to seal the victory and collect the 900,000-dollar first prize in the five million-dollar tournament.
Weir posted a two-under par 68 at the wind-whipped Grayhawk Golf Club for a 14-under total of 266. It was the Canadian’s first victory since the 2004 Nissan Open in Los Angeles and the eighth US tour title of his career.
“Unbelievable,” he said. “I can’t put it into words. It has been a long time coming — 3 1/2 years. I have put a lot of hard work in.”
The work included a swing change that saw him slide back after being ranked as high as eighth in the world.
Weir was ranked 48th this week but should jump in the global list as his swing changes are finally beginning to pay off.
“Over the last eight or nine months, it has started to feel better all the time,” Weir said. “The last month or so, it has been feeling really good and to get a win here is great.”
Hensby made it interesting, seizing the lead after eight holes before a bogey at the ninth.
Weir, who got a big confidence boost with a victory over world No. 1 Tiger Woods in their singles match at the Presidents Cup last month, took sole possession of the lead with a birdie at 10 and cemented his position with a birdie at 15.
Weir led by a stroke on the final hole but found a bunker on his approach before blasting out to six foot and sinking the winning putt.
“I hit the ball really solidly. I think that was the best I hit it probably all week as far as in the middle of the face,” Weir said.
“Except for a couple of hiccups — I had those two 3-putts that kind of hurt in the middle of the round = and other than that I played really well and putted really well.”
American Billy Mayfair, who lives nearby, was third on 270.
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